So how much did Ralph weigh anyway? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BensonFan · 06-15-2007, 10:52 PM

I know that sounds like a funny question but my niece (who's almost 11) asked me that question when we were watching the show one day. You can definitely see that in the earlier episodes, he was lighter, then he put on weight as the show progressed. My niece basically said she could see he was heavy, but it wasn't like he was so enormous that his weight should have been such a target for jokes the way it was. (Of course I reminded her those jokes were part of what made the show so funny in the first place)

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So what do you think? About 250 lbs in those later episodes? That's my guess. But I'm not good at guessing weight so I could be way off-base on that one.

T-Greg · 06-15-2007, 11:06 PM

I'd say between 260-275.

*ClassicPinUp* · 06-16-2007, 12:28 AM

I'd say around 275-280. It's hard to tell with him because he mainly carried that weight around his stomach-his arms and legs where actually rather thin-which can make someone look heavier than they actually are. I noticed even when he was thinner he still had a rather big stomach for his frame. My guess is his stomach was that way from all the drinking -beer belly-

catlover79 · 06-16-2007, 12:36 AM

Plenty.

BensonFan · 06-16-2007, 09:04 AM

Oh, and another thing: I don't know his height either. That might help in estimating his weight.

Frank Gannucci · 06-16-2007, 10:29 PM

In "A Weighty Problem"< Ralph says he weighed 246. Of course, his weighed varied thoughout the series.

Janice · 06-16-2007, 11:07 PM

Jackie Gleason was just under six feet, according to IMDB. I'd say he was about 280 towards the end of the show.

chopperguy · 06-16-2007, 11:38 PM

It did make for many good jokes at Ralph/Gleason's expense. At least Jackie could do that and wasn't afraid or hung-up about his weight. He was who he was...one of the greatest performers of our time, whether at 180 pounds or 300 plus.

I liked a few lines Norton said during the episode "Safety Award" The reporter asked Norton how close he was to Ralph, and Norton replied "I'm as close as anyone can get to Ralph Kramden"

Another good line was when the reporter asked "How long have you known Mr. Kramden, when did you meet?", and Norton replied, "Oh...about 150 pounds ago"

Frischman_Fan · 06-17-2007, 12:49 AM

Gleason was 5'9" and I think he weighed around 260-290. Like andawaywego mentioned, he drank alot giving him a masive beer belly contributing to his weight.

My favorite lines about his weight came from Alice!

Ralph: Isn't there any lard around here?!

Alice: Yea! About 300 pounds of it!

BensonFan · 06-17-2007, 08:50 AM

Yeah, Alice always got him good with the fat jokes....

Ralph: Other wives stand behind their husbands. Why can't you for once stand behind me?
Alice: Oh, I'd like to, Ralph. There just isn't enough room back there.

catlover79 · 06-17-2007, 01:08 PM

Audrey Meadows sure had a way with an insult. Perfect timing!!

*ClassicPinUp* · 06-20-2007, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VivianVanceFan

Gleason was 5'9" and I think he weighed around 260-290. Like andawaywego mentioned, he drank alot giving him a masive beer belly contributing to his weight.

My favorite lines about his weight came from Alice!

Ralph: Isn't there any lard around here?!

Alice: Yea! About 300 pounds of it!

I always lmao in that one episode when he's trying to butter Alice up for something and she calls him a "beautiful fat tub!"
The look on his face...

W.B. · 06-20-2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VivianVanceFan

Gleason was 5'9" and I think he weighed around 260-290.

You mean . . . he was a bit shorter than Benny Hill (who measured anywhere from 5' 9½" [per IMDb] to 5' 10½" [early in his career])? As to Gleason's weight, William Henry III's The Great One: The Life and Legend of Jackie Gleason mentioned that Gleason's weight, in adulthood, ranged from 220 to 335 lbs.

BensonFan · 06-22-2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.B.

You mean . . . he was a bit shorter than Benny Hill (who measured anywhere from 5' 9½" [per IMDb] to 5' 10½" [early in his career])? As to Gleason's weight, William Henry III's The Great One: The Life and Legend of Jackie Gleason mentioned that Gleason's weight, in adulthood, ranged from 220 to 335 lbs.

335 lbs?! WOW!

W.B. · 06-25-2007, 05:19 AM

A follow-up . . . I saw a shot of Gleason and Milton Berle side-by-side from a 1967 episode of the former's show, and according to IMDb Berle was 5' 10½". Gleason looked about equal height, more or less - which would've made The Great One about 5' 10". I have to check other actors and their heights and see how they stood alongside Jackie to make totally sure. The 5' 9" figure probably was what Gleason stood in his last years, if so . . .

06-15-2007, 10:52 PM	#1
BensonFan Board Psychologist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,733	So how much did Ralph weigh anyway? I know that sounds like a funny question but my niece (who's almost 11) asked me that question when we were watching the show one day. You can definitely see that in the earlier episodes, he was lighter, then he put on weight as the show progressed. My niece basically said she could see he was heavy, but it wasn't like he was so enormous that his weight should have been such a target for jokes the way it was. (Of course I reminded her those jokes were part of what made the show so funny in the first place) . So what do you think? About 250 lbs in those later episodes? That's my guess. But I'm not good at guessing weight so I could be way off-base on that one.
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06-16-2007, 12:28 AM	#3
ClassicPinUp ***** Senior Member** Join Date: Oct 28, 2006 Posts: 2,246	I'd say around 275-280. It's hard to tell with him because he mainly carried that weight around his stomach-his arms and legs where actually rather thin-which can make someone look heavier than they actually are. I noticed even when he was thinner he still had a rather big stomach for his frame. My guess is his stomach was that way from all the drinking -beer belly-
	__________________ Imy firefighter!

06-16-2007, 12:36 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Plenty.
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06-16-2007, 10:29 PM	#6
Frank Gannucci Member Forum Star Join Date: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 16,041	According... In "A Weighty Problem"< Ralph says he weighed 246. Of course, his weighed varied thoughout the series.

06-17-2007, 12:49 AM	#9
Frischman_Fan Who luvs nerds?! I DO!!! Senior Member Join Date: Sep 19, 2003 Location: In the back of Rigby's grocery store. Posts: 1,178	Gleason was 5'9" and I think he weighed around 260-290. Like andawaywego mentioned, he drank alot giving him a masive beer belly contributing to his weight. My favorite lines about his weight came from Alice! Ralph: Isn't there any lard around here?! Alice: Yea! About 300 pounds of it!
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06-15-2007, 11:06 PM	#2
T-Greg Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2003 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,711	I'd say between 260-275.

06-16-2007, 09:04 AM	#5
BensonFan Board Psychologist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,733	Oh, and another thing: I don't know his height either. That might help in estimating his weight.

06-16-2007, 11:07 PM	#7
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Jackie Gleason was just under six feet, according to IMDB. I'd say he was about 280 towards the end of the show.

06-16-2007, 11:38 PM	#8
chopperguy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 06, 2007 Location: Mid-Atlantic Posts: 38	It did make for many good jokes at Ralph/Gleason's expense. At least Jackie could do that and wasn't afraid or hung-up about his weight. He was who he was...one of the greatest performers of our time, whether at 180 pounds or 300 plus. I liked a few lines Norton said during the episode "Safety Award" The reporter asked Norton how close he was to Ralph, and Norton replied "I'm as close as anyone can get to Ralph Kramden" Another good line was when the reporter asked "How long have you known Mr. Kramden, when did you meet?", and Norton replied, "Oh...about 150 pounds ago"

06-17-2007, 08:50 AM	#10
BensonFan Board Psychologist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,733	Yeah, Alice always got him good with the fat jokes.... Ralph: Other wives stand behind their husbands. Why can't you for once stand behind me? Alice: Oh, I'd like to, Ralph. There just isn't enough room back there.

06-17-2007, 01:08 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Audrey Meadows sure had a way with an insult. Perfect timing!!

06-25-2007, 05:19 AM	#15
W.B. Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 23, 2005 Location: New York, New York, USA Posts: 389	A follow-up . . . I saw a shot of Gleason and Milton Berle side-by-side from a 1967 episode of the former's show, and according to IMDb Berle was 5' 10½". Gleason looked about equal height, more or less - which would've made The Great One about 5' 10". I have to check other actors and their heights and see how they stood alongside Jackie to make totally sure. The 5' 9" figure probably was what Gleason stood in his last years, if so . . .